As time went on Leo developed interests in other areas and would draw less and less. It would not be for another 15 years that he would return to drawing. In college he enrolled in an art class where he found new inspiration to draw again. The course helped him gain a better perspective on art but again he found himself losing interest. In the early 1990s Leo began searching for his identity. This arduous task would ultimately lead him to his Puerto Rican culture. He visited many institutions and agencies in his community, most of which were Puerto Rican based. He started learning about Puerto Rican history. This would prove to be the beginning of trying times for his beliefs to this point. He began learning about the Taino natives of Borikén, the Puerto Rican migration to the United States, and about his forefathers who were Puerto Rican. He also researched the many injustices imposed on the people of Puerto Rico: his people. Leo found himself on an emotional roller coaster ride. He was questioning what he thought he knew to be true, but whose truth?

Leo became more involved in Chicago’s Puerto Rican community because he wanted to learn more; he needed to learn more. He was finding himself and feeling whole. He began volunteering his free time to different agencies on various community and cultural projects. With his new found knowledge he began to develop pride: Puerto Rican pride. It boosted his self-esteem and fostered change in his very existence.

Today Leo uses his art to share that pride. The most satisfying aspect of his artwork is being able to share the historical and cultural aspect of his pieces. He is allowed the opportunity to educate and equally important, reinforce his identity. Leo also serves as a cultual worker in his community where he teaches bomba drumming classes. Bomba is Afro-Puerto Rican music from the sugarcane plantations in the island of Puerto Rico that comes by way of the African slaves. Leo has been a drumming instructor for AfriCaribe, NFP since they opened their academy in 2000.

In February of 2005 Leo founded the Illinois State Latino Artists Association (ISLAA). Along with several other community artists, Leo saw the need to help unify Puerto Rican artists and to create a venue for these artists to exhibit their works. "There is little to no venue for Puerto Rican artists to show their works. There are many Puerto Rican artists in our community who do not get the recognition that they desrve. The only time you see some of these artists are during the few cultural festivals. We at ISLAA wanna try to combat this."

Although a young group in the community, ISLAA has already made its presence known by participating in the following events:

LaCasita De Don Pedro; a project of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center Juan Antonio Corretjer; Fiesta Patronales, Fiesta Boricua, Elgin Puerto Rican Parade, Coco's Restuarant, East Chicago, IN Puerto Rican Parade, Institute for Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, HAAS Summer Teen Reach Program, and many more.